Track lining



United States Patent [72} inventors Franz Plasser; [56] I ReferencesCited Josef'lheurer. J an g 3, na UNITED STATES PATENTS Austria2,962,979 12/1960 MCCOl'mlCk 104/8 P 7513" 3,149,579 9/1964 Plasser etal. 104/8 [.22] Had Aug. 8, 1968 Dec 15 1970 3,170,4l0 2/1965 Chnstoff104/8 [451 F 'P A 1967 3,292,557 12/1966 Warwick 104/8 E Pmmy zg3,301,198 l/l967 Bick 104/7 [3|] Ann/67 FOREIGN PATENTS 657,782 3/1938Germany 104/8 Primary Examiner-Arthur L. La Point AssistantExaminer-Richard A. Bertsch I 54] TRACK LINING Anomeyl(urt Kelman 17Claims, 7 Drawing Figs. [52] U.S. Cl. 104/8, ABSTRACT: A track linercarrying a lurality of track linin P g 104/7 units spaced from eachother in the direction of the track con- [51] Int. Cl E01b tinuouslymoves in this direction and continuously moves the 33/00, EOlb 33/02track laterally under the control of a reference system which [50] Fieldof Search l04/7, 7B, continuously moves with the liner and is associatedwith each 8, 12 track lining unit.

1 TRACK LINING BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention relates to the continuous, nonstop lining of tracks. I v

It has become known in recentyears to line railroad tracks automaticallywith liners which continuously move on and along the track in a givendirection, and which carry track lining units for glidin'gly orrollingly engaging the track rails and for moving the track laterallywhile the units engage the track rails. In track lining machines whichwe have manufactured and sold' to railroads in many countries, the tracklining units include pairs of adjacent flanged rollers positioned forengagement with a respective track rail at a'lining point. At thecommencement of work, these roller lining units are hydraulicallylowered into engagement with rails on which the rollers run continuouslythroughout the entire-lining operation. For this purpose, the rollersare mounted on swivel arms which are pivoted into an inoperative rollerposition, wherein the rollers are lifted off the track, and an operativeposition, wherein the flanged rollers engage the trackrails. When liningthe track, hydraulic motors which are attached to the mounts for therollers engaging the two rails and extend therebetween, move both rollerunits in the desired'lateral direction, and the flanged rollers transmitthe lining power to both rails via the flanges of the four rollers. Thedouble flanged rollers on each rail-provide a most effective four-pointapplication permitting continuouslining without affecting the track gagewhile the track is continuously pressed laterally into the correctposition. 1

In automatic continuous lining operations with liners of this type, ithas been found that truly accurate lining of each track point requiresmore time than other track repair or maintenance work, such as gradingand tamping of the track. It has not been possible to effectuate suchaccurate lining in a single operation but it has been necessary totravel over the same track section at least twice, or more often, toobtain the desired alignment with accuracy,

Furthermore, there has also been the danger that lining of one trackpoint will move'the immediately adjacent, previously lined point out ofalignment asthe liner proceeds continuously along the track. This, too,has necessitated repeated and successive lining of the same tracksection so that any errors may be corrected in succeeding liningoperations.

All of these difficulties are aggravated with nonstop lining machinessince such liners move continuously without stopping atany track pointtomake it possible to adjust lateral track movement at any particularand/or to take into account local springback of the track, necessitatingfurther lateral adjustment. It has, therefore, been impossible toproduce truly accurate lining with nonstop liners.

It is the primary object of the present invention to overcome thesedifficulties and to line each track point several times in successionuntil it finally reaches the desired position while the liner progressesalong the track in a single operation and without stopping. The movementof the liner along the track and'the successive lateral movements ofeach track point is effectuated according to this invention speedilyenough to proceed synchronously with other track, maintenance and/orrepair work. The invention is most effectively applied tothe type ofnonstop liner hereinabove described, which carries rollerlining units.

The above and other objects are accomplished in accordance with theinvention by arranging a plurality, i.e. at least two, of the tracklining units on the liner so that they are Thus, each unit lines a trackpo'intin'relation to a suitable reference system to move this trackpoint laterally for a distance determined by the reference system. Asingle reference system may be common to all units or separate referencemay be used for each unit. All units operate simultaneously onsuccessive track points, and successive units progressively move topreviously lined points as the liner advances, thus providing forsuccessive lining of each point during a single pass ofthe liner.

Thus, each track lining unit can move the track for a portion of theentire distance required for moving the track into the desired position,a sufiicient number of successive units being provided on the liner sothat the last unit is able to make the final correction and move thetrack into'the desired position. In this stepwise proceeding lateralmovement of the track, no point is moved an excessive distance, thusreducing undue displacement of any track point and resultant tracktensions. This makes it possible to reduce the lining power requirementsand also lowers or eliminates such resultant conditions arecounterforces built up in the track, springbacks, and the like.

In our application Ser. No. 682,339 filed Nov. 13, 1967, now US. Pat.No. 3,504,634 we have proposed a track liner with two successivelyarranged track shifting means. However, no reference system was providedfor the forward track shifting means which served merely for a coarselateral alignment, only the rear shifting means being associated with areference system for effectuating' the desired track alignment. Also,the machine disclosed in the prior application is not designed fornonstop lining operations but includes grading and tamping means, thelatter operations requiring intermittent movement of the machine forgrading, tamping' and lining successive, spaced points along the track.This differs fundamentally from the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING The above and other objects, advantages andfeatures of the present invention will be better understood by referenceto the following detailed description of certain preferred embodiments,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a track liner according to thisinvention;

' FIG. 2 is a top view ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates the reference system used in the track liner of FIGS.1 and 2;

FIG. 4 schematically shows the progress of the lining operation carriedout in accordance with the invention; and

FIGS. 5 to 7 illustrate additional embodiments of reference systemsuseful in track lining according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawing and'first to FIGS. 1and 2, there is shown a track liner comprising a frame I mounted forcontinuous movement on and along the track in the direction indicated byan arrow on running gears 2 and 3. The running gears are spaced fromeach other in" the direction of the track and three generallyconventional track lining units 5, 6 and 7 are mounted on the frame,being spaced from each other in the track direction. In the illustratedembodiment, the track lining unit 6 is mounted on the frame 1 betweenthe running gears while the units 5 and 7 are mounted respectively atthe ends of the frame outside the running gears.

In a known manner, each track lining unit is arranged for engagementwith the track and for lateral movement of the track when in engagementtherewith. Each unit comprises a pair of adjacent tools spaced from eachother in the track spaced from each other in the direction of the track.The direction and capable of glidingly or rollingly engaging the trackrails 'when the liner moves therealong. Flanged rail enlateral trackmovementby each unit successively, as the liner continuously moves inthis direction, is. controlled by a reference system continuously movingwith the liner and associated with each track lining unit. The referencesystem simultaneously controls all units.

the track rails.

As will be more fully described hereinafter, the reference lines of thereference system used for the lining operation are guided and supportedon a series of successive bogies 8, 9, 10, ll, 12, 13, I4 and 15 mountedfor movement with the liner. As shown, the first bogie 8 and the lastbogie 15 are mounted on telescoping rods which may be pushed into theframe when the liner is transferred to another site, and the otherbogies may be raised into the frame to clear the track during suchtransfer. In a known manner, the continuous lining operation isautomatically controlled by the reference system, amplified feelerpulses from the chord measuring system being directed proportionally toservovalves which in turn, control the hydraulic motors whichtransversely move the track lining units.

The illustrated reference system is based on the so-called two-chordsystem using as measuring parameters the ordinates of a long chord and ashort chord at each track point to be lined, such a system beingdescribed, for instance, in US. Pat. No. 3,343,496.1n the illustratedsystem, the short reference lines or chords consist of elongatedelements, such as rods, tensioned wires or tensioned cables.

The foremost reference line 16 (seen in the direction of forwardmovement of the liner on the track, as indicated by the arrow) has aforward end fixedly anchored on the first bogie 8 and extends more orless along the centerline or axis of the track to a transversely movableanchoring point on bogie 10 for transversely adjustably holding the rearend of this reference line. Intermediate its ends, the reference linepasses between a pair of contacts on bogie 9, which contacts indicatethe lateral position of the reference line at the track point where thetrack lining unit operates. The reference line rod 16 may belongitudinally moved but is held at a predetermined distance from thetrack axis at the anchoring point on bogie 10. I

The next succeeding reference line l7'has its forward end linked to theanchoring point on bogie and extends to an anchoring point for its rearend on bogie 12, passing intermediate its ends between a pair ofcontacts on bogie 11, which contacts indicate the lateral position ofreference line 17 at the track point where the track lining unit 6operates. The reference line 18, which follows, has its forward endlinked to the anchoring point on bogie l2 and extends to a transverselymovable anchoring point on rear bogie for its rear end 15", passingintermediate its ends between a pair of contacts on bogie 14, whichcontacts indicate the lateral position of reference line 18. Thus, eachtrack lining unit is associated with a short reference line of thereference system which continuously moves with the liner and controlsthe lateral track movement by each of the track lining unitssuccessively as the liner continuously moves in the direction of thearrow, each of the short reference lines extending within the tracksection to be lined, which is delimited by the long reference line 19.

In the illustrated embodiment, the reference line 19 is constituted by abeam of electromagnetic waves, such as a light beam, which extends fromthe first bogie 8 to the last bogie 15. For this purpose, a wave emitter(or receiver) 8' is mounted on bogie 8 laterally adjacent one of thetrack rails and a wave receiver (or emitter) 15 is mounted on bogie ISlaterally adjacent the one track rail so that, as best seen in FIG. 3,the long reference line 19 forms a chord ofa circular are formed by thetrack section to be lined.

A short reference line 20 cooperates with long reference line 19,extending from rear bogie 15 with one ofits ends held in a previouslylined track point on this bogie to bogie 13 where its other end isanchored at a track point where track lining unit 7 operates.Intermediate its ends, the short reference line 20 cooperates with ameasuring means on measuring bogie 14. This measuring means includes aslit stop 21 mounted on bogie 14 for movement transversely of the trackin relation to the long reference line 19. Any suitable drive, such as aspindle drive, may be used to move the slit stop transversely forcooperation with light beam 19. An indicating element cooperating with,and showing the lateral position of,

the short reference line 20 is arranged for transverse movement inresponse to, and with, the slit stop movement so that the indicatingelement moves laterally with the slit stop when the latter is driven.The distance of the indicating element from the slit stop alwayscorresponds to the desired lateral track moving distance, i.e. thedesired distance between the ordinates of the long reference line 19 andthe short reference line 20,

The track 4 is laterally moved by track lining unit 7 at the forward endof short reference line 20 on bogie 13 until the indicating element,which indicates the desired position of the short reference line,coincides with the actual position of this reference line.

The track lining operation illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 proceeds asfollows:

First, the forward end of the intermediate reference line 17 on bogie 10is transversely moved in relation to track 4 until it passes clearbetween the contacts on bogie 11 at the track point of lining unit 6.The rear end of this reference line on bogie 12 and the ends of thesucceeding reference line 18 are laterally moved by the same distance.In this manner, and despite the lateral movement of the forward end ofline 17 on bogie 10, reference lines 17 and 18 form a proper basis forlaterally moving the track point at unit 6 in respect of the track axis.

After these adjustments, the forward track lining unit 5 is operated tomove the track 4 at this point until the reference line 16 runs clearbetween the contacts on bogie 9, thus producing a first or coarsealignment of this track point, as shown in FIG. 4.

The operation of track lining unit 6 is controlled by the position ofreference lines 17 and 18, i.e. this unit-laterally moves the track atthis point until the reference line 17 runs clear between the contactson bogie 11. For this lateral movement to bring the track into desiredposition, it is necessary for the reference line 18, which is linked tothe reference line 17 on bogie 12, to run clear between the contacts onmeasuring bogie 14.

As pointed out hereinabove, the reference lines 16, 17, 18, may beelectrically conductive elongated elements cooperating with pairs ofelectrical contacts mounted on the respective bogies. The relativeposition of the reference lines in relation to the contacts, as theypass therebetween, indicates either the desired position when the linesrun clear between the contacts, or a deviation from the desired positionto the right or left, depending on which contact is touched by the line.

As is best appreciated from viewing FIG. 4, successive points of track 4are continuously moved laterally from an existing to a desired positionby a predetermined distance, each point being moved successively by aportion of this distanceuntil each point has been moved into the desiredtrack position S in a succession of transverse movements, this desiredtrack position being attained by the last track lining unit 7 which iscontrolled by the reference system consisting of long reference line 19and short reference line 20. This unit is operated until the anchoringpoint of the short reference line on bogie 13 at this track correctionpoint is laterally moved with the track on which the bogie rests such adistance that the indicating element on measuring bogie l4 coincideswith the position of the short reference line 20, the indicating elementhaving been moved with the slit stop when the slit stop was adjusted sothat the light beam 19 passed through the slit of the stop, whereby thedesired ratio of the ordinates of the two reference lines wasestablished to determine the desired track position.

In the reference system of FIG. 5, the long reference line 19 is commonto the control of all three track lining units while a short referenceline cooperating therewith is associated with each unit, the referenceline 24 being associated with the rear unit 7, the reference line 22being associated with the intermediate unit 6 and the reference line 23being associated with the forward track lining unit 5. While the longreference line 19 extends between front bogie 8 and rear bogie 15, theline from rear bogie to bogie 31, and the line 23 extends parallel tothe long reference line between bogies 32 and 29.

The respective forward ends of the short reference lines areanchored,-respectively, to-bogies 29, 31, and 33 at the track pointswhere the track lining units 5, 6 and7 respectively operate. Anindicating. element associated with each short reference line measuresand compares its ordinate at each lining point in respect of theordinate of the long reference line at this point and accordinglycontrols the lateral movement of the track point at each track liningunit in a manner similar to that described in connection with thecontrol of track lining unit 7 in the embodiment of H68. 3. It may besufficient in many lining operations to measure and indicate theordinate ratio only at one point, i.e. at the bogie 33, and to units,this measuring parameter at the other two liningunits, too.

Still another embodiment of a useful reference system is illustrated inFIG. 6.-This reference-system, too, is used with three track liningunits 5. 6, 7 and moves continuously with the liner in the direction ofthe arrow, with a first reference line 26 extending from frontbogie8to'ananchoring point on bogie 40', passing intermediate its endsat the track point where unit 5 operates over bogie 49. A. succeedingreference line 27 extends from the anchoring points 'on bogie 40' tobogie 41', passing intermediate its endsover bogie 40, the ho gies 49and 40 carrying the contacts which indicate the position of therespective reference line in the'manner described in connection withtheother embodiments. A. long reference line 39, which may be constitutedby a tensioned wire, extends from bogie 40 to bogie 42 and cooperateswith short reference line 38 which extends from bogie 41 to bogie 42,the reference system of lines 38, 39 being associated with, andcontrolling the operation of, track lining unit 6. Finally, a referenceline 27' extends from bogie 42 to an anchoring point on bogie 43',passing over the contacts onbogie intermediate its ends, and a lastreference line 28 extends from the anchoring point on bogie 43' to therear bogie 15,-passing over the contacts on bogie 44 intermediate itsends.

If the reference lines 26, 27, 27' and 23 are constituted by rods orlike rigid elongated elements, theyare linked together at the respectiveanchoring points-on bogies-40' and 43'. If

desired, the supporting bogies'may be omitted at these linking pointssince they do not absolutely require a support. Also, if the referencelines 27 and 28 are constituted. rods, the contacts on bogies 40 and 44may be replaced by simple mechanireference system. ln this system, too,a common long reference line chord 59 is used for the control of alllining units, unit 5 being associated with a short chord 53 extendingparallel to the long chord between bogies 55 and 57 while unit 6 isassociates with a short chord 52 extending between bogie 56 and bogie58. The forward end of short reference line 53 is anchored to bogie 55at the point where unit 5 operates and the forward end of reference line52 is anchored to the. bogie cal hearings in which the rods are fixed inrespect of their distance from the centerline or axis of the track butin which they may be longitudinally movably mounted. This'substitutestructure may also be chosen for the support of the correspondingreference lines 17 and 18 in the embodiment of FIG. 3, where thecontacts intermediate the reference line ends may be replaced by simplemechanical bearings.

The lining reference system hereinabovedescribed is substantially thatdescribed and claimed in US. Pat. No. 3,343,496. It operates, inbrief,as follows;

The forward track lining unit 5 laterallymoves the track 4 until thereference line 16 runs clear between the contacts on bogie 49. Theintermediate unit 6 moves the track laterally until the forwardanchoring point of short reference line 38 on bogie 41, which is mountedon and moves with the track, has been moved into a position which isindicated by a nonillustrated indicating element associated with theshort reference line to be the position wherein the desired ratio ofordinates between the long and short reference line's been attained.This desired ratio depends on the lengths of the reference lines 38 and39, and its attainment indicated the desired position of the track atthis point. Finally. the unit 4 laterally moves the track 4 into thedesired position indicated by the reference line 27' running clearbetween the contacts on bogie 43.

The embodiment of H6. 7 shows a simplified liner using only two tracklining units 5 and 6 with-a simple associated 56 at the point where unit6 operates. Lateral movement is again controlled by indicating (in anonillustrated manner) the ordinates of the short chords in comparisonwith those of the long chord, which may be a tensioned wire, at thelining point. The ordinate of the long chord may be measured at onepoint and used at the other point, or it may be determined at each pointseparately in relation to the respective short chord.

The reference systems working with two reference lines of differentlengths, wherein the ratio of the ordinates of the long and short chordsis used to control the lining, are based on the teaching in AustrianPat. No. 227,749. Such systems are also disclosed; for instance, in US.Pats. Nos. 3,314,154 and 3,314,373.

' While the lining apparatus and method of the present invention hasbeen described inconnection with certain specific reference systems, itwill be obvious that. any suitable reference system for controlling thelateral movement of the track lining units may be used without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention..lt.is merely required thatone or more reference systems are used to enable two or more tracklining units to operate simultaneously at successive track points tomove the track laterally at these points. This makes it possible to linea track in a continuously progressing manner without stopping the linerat any point.

We claim:

l. A mobile, nonstop track liner for laterally moving a track as theliner continuously moves in one direction on and along the track,comprising:

l. a plurality of independently operable and controllable track liningunits arranged on the liner for engagement with the track and forlateral movement of the track when in engagement therewith; a. the tracklining units being spaced from each other sufficiently in the directionof the track to operate at successive and separate lining points; and

2. a reference system continuously moving with the liner and associatedwith each of the track lining units for independently controllingthe-lateral track movement by each of said units simultaneously as theliner continuously moves in said one direction. Y

2. The track liner of claim 1, wherein each track lining unit comprisesa pair of adjacent tools spaced from each other in the direction of thetrack, the tools being capable of moving in relation to the trackrailswhile engaging the same.

3. The track liner of claim 2, wherein said tools are flanged rollers,

4. The track liner of claim 1, further comprising a frame,

two running gears mounting the frame for continuous movement onthetrack, the two gears being spaced from each other in the trackdirection, one of the track lining units being mounted on the framebetween the running gears.

5. The track liner of claim 4, wherein two of said track lining unitsare mounted respectively at the ends of the frame outside said runninggears.

6. The track liner of claim 1, wherein a separate one of said referencesystems is associated with each rack lining unit.

'7. The track liner of claim 6, wherein the separate reference systemsassociated with successive ones of the track lining units overlap in thetrack direction.

8. The track liner of claim 1, wherein said reference system is a systemcommon to all of said track lining units.

9. The track liner of claim 8, wherein the common reference systemcomprises a series .of successive reference lines, a first one of saidreference lines extending from a previously lined track section is saidtrack direction into a track section to be lined whereby said referencelines delimit a continuously advancing track section to be linedadjacent the previously lined track section.

10. The track liner of claim 9, comprising a plurality of successivebogies mounted for movement with the liner, and at least three of saidreference lines linked to each other and supported on said bogies, andmeans for adjustably positioning said reference lines in respect to thetrack axis.

11. The track liner of claim 1, wherein the reference system associatedwith at least one of the track lining units comprises a long referenceline and a short reference line, said reference lines constituting thechords of a circular arc, and further comprises a measuring means alongthe short reference line for determining the ordinates of the referencelines,

12. A mobile, nonstop track liner for laterally moving a track as theliner continuously moves in one direction on and along the track,comprising:

1. a plurality of track lining units arranged on the liner forengagement with the track and for lateral movement of the track when inengagement therewith;

a. the track lining units being spaced from each other in the directionof the track;

2. a reference system continuously moving with the liner and associatedwith each of the track lining units for controlling the lateral trackmovement by each of said units simultaneously as the liner continuouslymoves in said one direction;

b. the reference system associated with at least one of the track liningunits comprising a long reference line and a short reference line, saidreference lines constituting the chords of a circular arc, and furthercomprising a measuring means along the short reference line fordetermining the ordinates of the reference lines;

3. a bogie mounted on the track for movement with the liner;

c. said measuring means including a slit stop mounted on said bogie formovement transversely of the track in relation to the long referenceline, said long reference line being constituted by a beam ofelectromagnetic waves; and

4. an indicating element associated with the short reference line, theindicating element being arranged for transverse movement in responseto, and with, the slit stop movement, whereby the transverse movement ofthe track and the bogie mounted thereon adjusts the indicating elementin respect of the short reference line.

13. The track liner of claim 12, wherein the short reference line is atensioned wire.

14. The track liner of claim 12, wherein the short reference line is arod.

15. A mobile, nonstop track liner for laterally moving a track as theliner continuously moves in one direction on and along the track,comprising:

1. a plurality of independently operable and controllable track liningunits arranged on the liner for engagement with the track and forlateral movement of the track when in engagement therewith:

a. the track lining units being spaced from each other sufficiently inthe direction of the trackto operate at successive and separate liningpoints; and

2. a reference system continuously moving with the liner and associatedwith each of the track lining units for independently controlling thelateral track movement by each of said units simultaneously as the linercontinuously moves in one direction:

b. the reference system comprising a long reference line common to allof the track lining units and constituting a chord of a circular arc inrelation to which the desired transverse lining movement of the track isdetermined, at least two short reference lines each having a forward endin said track direction at a respective one of said track lining units,and an indicating means associated with each forward end for measurinand com arin analogous measuring parameters of t e long an shorreference lines, whereby the measuring parameters of the short referencelines are connected in relation to the analogous measuring parameter ofthe long reference line upon transverse movement of the track into adesired position.

16. The track liner of claim 15, wherein the long reference linedetermines a section of the track to be lined, and the short referencelines within this section overlap and cross each other.

17. A method oflining a track by continuously moving successive trackpoints along a track section laterally from an existing to a desiredposition by a predetermined distance, comprising the step ofsuccessively and independently moving each of said track points by aportion of said distance until each point has been moved into thedesired position in a succession of independent transverse movements.

